Cover



Sept. 28, 1954 r fi x A A A NV/Vfl x INVENTOR Hlva. W. Saul Z W ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 28, 1954 COVER Alva W. Scott, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application May 16, 1946, Serial No. 67'0,261

Claims.

This invention relates to articulated surfaces and is particularly concerned with articulated covers such as are used on roll-top ashtrays, desks and the like.

An object of this invention is to provide an articulated lid or cover comprising a backing member of a rubber-like material having a plurality of transverse sections integral therewith which preferably have a dove-tailed cross section. Metallic or plastic clips having a length equal to the length of the transverse sections are provided which may be slid over said sections and thereby interlocked in place, whereby the cover has a good outer appearance, while still being of articulated nature.

In carrying out the above object, it is a further object to provide an articulated cover wherein the ornamental metal strips or the like which form the outer surface thereof are mechanically locked to a pliable and flexible backing member through the means of interlocking sections that are substantially member.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an articulated cover of an ornamental type wherein a strip of rubber-like material'having a fabric reinforcement therein is provided as a base for the cover, which base has vulcanized thereon a plurality of spaced transverse ribs also formed from rubber-like material, which ribs each have a dove-tail cross section with smaller end adjacent the flexible member. A plurality of metal clips are provided which interlock with said transverse sections and may be slid thereover longitudinally thereof whereby the clips are articulated through the flexible backing member and are mechanically interlocked thereto through means of the transverse sections.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying dawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

Fig. 1 shows a view in perspective of an ashtray as used in the dash-board of an automobile, which tray has an articulated closure or cover therefor shown in the partially open position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the flexible backing member and the dove-tail interlocking sections vulcanized thereto.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of one of the metal clips and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end view of a cover with the metal clips in position on the flexible backing member.

integral with the flexible Articulated covers are well-known in the art. They have been used on roll-top desks, ashtray covers and the likefor many years past; In all cases, a flexible backing member or sheet is used to which is cemented transverse longitudinal strips that form the outer surface of the cover. In the case of the roll-top desk, a canvas backing is used which has a plurality of closely spaced wooden strips glued thereto. The strips will easily go around a curve in a track that guides the cover and are held together through the means of the canvas. In automotive applications of this same type of closure, ashtrays have been designed having metallic covers which are articulated wherein a rubber-like flexible backing sheet or member is usedwhich' has an ornamental face comprising a plurality of closely spaced metallic strips cemented thereto. The strips are-usually chrome-plated and present a pleasing appearance. The cover is carried in a track in the ashtray and may be rolled to closed or open position. The metallic strips are held together through the action of'the rubber-like backing member.

In all of these past devices, the outer portions of the cover, that is the strips, become disengaged from the backing member which holds them together whereby only a portion of the cover will operate due to breaking away of the strips from the backing member. In such cases, the cover eventually becomes inoperative without considerable mechanical manipulation in order to get the strips'in place so that operation is possible. In the case Of an ashtray, the length or the width of the strips is' small and the loosened strips become jammed in the tracks making operation of the cover very diflicult.

I have provided an improved cover of articulated design which preferably has a metal face and which metal face is mechanically locked to the backing member whereby no such difficulty as has been apparent in the past, can arise. Specifically referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows an ashtray 20 as one embodimentof the invention, which device includes side walls 22 and 24 mounted on a base 26. Walls 22 and 24 each has a track 28 therein as shown in wall 24. In the tracks 28, an articulated cover 30 is slidably assembled. The cover 30 includes a knob 32 thereon for operational purposes.

The construction of the cover 30 is the improvement which forms the basis of my invention. For this cover I provide a flexible sheet or backing member 34 preferably made from a fabric reinforced rubber-like sheet. Rubber, crude or reclaimed or any of the synthetic rubbers etc., may be used as is desired providing the material is vulcanizable. Onto this sheet I cement with a vulcanizable cement a plurality of transverse sections 36 which preferably have a dove-tail cross section. The sections 36 extend across the backing 34 and are maintained in spaced relation to one another. This assembly is then vulcanized to integrate the sections 36 with the backing 34. In all cases, after vulcanization, the sections 36 are firmly and completely attached to the backing 34 through a vulcanized bond and are just as strongly adhered thereto as if the entire assembly were made in a single integral piece. In order to improve the appearance of the part, I next provide a plurality of clips 38 preferably metallic, which have a face section 40 thereon and bent down side sections 42 and 44. These side sections are bent inwardly so that they are at substantially the same angle from the face 40 as the sides of the rubber-like sections 36. Thus the clips 38 may be pressed endwise over the sections 36 as shown in Fig. 4 to provide a substantially continuous outer surface of metal or the like wherein each clip is interlocked through the dove-tail to its associated rubber-like section. Instead of metal, plastic or any other suitable material may be used as desired.

From the structure defined herein, it is apparent that the clip material cannot break off the backing member 34 since it is impossible for the sections 36 to become disengaged and similarly it is impossible for the clips to become disengaged from the sections 36 due to the presence of tracks 28 and the dovetail construction thereof.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An articulated cover comprising in combination; a one piece flexible rubber-like sheet of backing material, a plurality of separate rubber-like strips vulcanized onto one surface of said backing material transversely thereof and in equally, closely spaced relation to one another, each of said strips having a larger area at the top thereof than at the portion which is bonded to the backing material for forming a dovetailed cross section, and a plurality of substantially rigid clips having a cross section complementary in shape to the cross section of said strips and adapted to be slid endwise over said strips for frictional engagement thereto and interlock therewith for forming an outside covering for the strips.

2. The cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said clips are metal.

3. The cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said clips are formed from a plastic material.

4. An ashtray, including a roll-away cover therefor, comprising in combination; a box-like member having two side walls each of which includes a curved track groove therein, a roll-away cover adapted to fit within said track grooves and slidable with respect thereto; said cover comprising, a reinforced sheet like rubber backing member having a plurality of separate dovetailed shape rubber-like strips vulcanized transversely thereto at one side thereof in spaced relation to one another with the reduced area ends thereof in contact with the backing member, and a plurality of chromium plated clips adapted to be slid endwise over said strips for forming an ornamental and wear-resistant surface on said cover, said clips being held in fixed transverse relation to the cover by said side walls, said cover being slidable in said tracks for opening or closing the ashtray.

5. A flexible cover comprising, a continuous flexible substantially rectangular base having on one surface a plurality of parallel flexible ribs integral with the base, said ribs being spaced and undercut at their adjacent edges, and a stiff ornamental covering member embracing each rib, each covering member having in-turned edge portions extending into the undercut portions of the respective ribs and the contiguous portions of adjacent covering members being in close proximity with each other whereby the outer portion of the base is substantially concealed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 329,062 Miller Oct. 27, 1885 705,045 Davidson July 22, 1902 726,257 Colahan 1 Apr. 28, 1903 1,782,110 Wetzler -1 Nov. 18, 1930 2,000,162 Buscham May 7, 1935 2,054,499 Florman Sept. 15, 1936 2,091,012 Pratt Aug. 24, 1937 2,107,997 Horsley Feb. 8, 1938 2,400,667 T'oews May 21, 1946 2,411,902 Skelly Dec. 3, 1946 Ms. A 

